| Rhubarb is a vegetable that can be grown as an | | | | prepared hole. Once covered, tamp soil mix down well |
| ornamental plant, incorporated in your edible landscape | | | | and thoroughly water. |
| or in the garden. It is a vegetable that is most | | | | As with most perennial crops, you don't want to |
| commonly prepared and eaten as a fruit, in pies, ice | | | | harvest them the first year, this allows the plant the |
| cream, jams and jellies. It is a cool weather perennial | | | | time it needs to get established, the second year to |
| crop that is grown for its fibrous celery-like leaf stalks, | | | | can start taking small harvests from the plant. When in |
| that have a delicious sweet-tart taste. | | | | it's third year you can harvest for about 1 month and |
| It can be grown in hardness zones 3 to 8 and as an | | | | after the third year you can harvest stalks when very |
| annual in climates that have mild winter months. It does | | | | they are mature enough for your picking. The main |
| best as a perennial in areas that have at least two | | | | part of there harvesting season is in the spring. You |
| months of cold weather and better if the area gets a | | | | can have smaller harvests that continue throughout the |
| ground freeze of at least 2 to 3 inches deep, along | | | | summer if climate conditions permit. |
| with a moist, cool spring. | | | | Warning about Rhubarb, Only the stalks of Rhubarb |
| Rhubarb plants grow between 2 to 3 feet high and | | | | are edible. The leaves themselves are toxic and are |
| wide, in a sunny location with a soil that is well drained. | | | | removed when harvested. There leaves contain a |
| It is grown from a root division also known as a crown | | | | substance called oxalic acid crystals and are toxic, |
| and is a long lived perennial. Usually 3 to 6 plants are | | | | they can result in poisoning. Also, Rhubarb that has |
| plenty for one household. | | | | been damaged by a frost may become inedible. If |
| When preparing the area for planting, dig a hole about | | | | there stems are not firm and upright, do not eat them. |
| 3 feet wide and 3 feet deep to accommodate the | | | | Frost damage can cause the oxalic acid crystals to |
| matured root system. Take the soil that you have | | | | move into the stalks making them poisonous. Rhubarb |
| removed from the hole and mix it with a generous | | | | leaves can be hot composted, even though they are |
| amount of compost and aged manure. Then refill the | | | | slightly toxic if ingested. The oxalic acid crystals will |
| hole, leaving it filled to within a couple inches of the top, | | | | dissipate in the soil before they are absorbed by other |
| set a crown in the center of the hole and cover with | | | | plants. |
| the balance of the soil mix you have from the | | | | |